Press Release: Canadian Government Eliminates Minister for Women and Gender Equality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Joint News Release on Minister of WAGE”
New York UNHQ, March 14, 2025—It is unacceptable that the new Canadian Prime Minister has eliminated the position of Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (WAGE) in his newly announced cabinet. This regressive step undermines decades of progress toward gender equality and political representation in Canada. Even in a lean cabinet, which purports to be responding to specific economic pressures, the absence of this dedicated minister sends a troubling message about the current government’s priorities and commitment to advancing rights for intergenerational women, 2SLGBTQIIA+ people and gender equality at large. A strong economy demands that we invest in feminist policies, like healthcare, pharmacare, childcare, the national action plan to end gender-based violence, and so much more. Gender equality is not an afterthought; it is the backbone of a strong economy and resilient society.
WAGE must retain a dedicated cabinet position. Consolidating these responsibilities into a broader portfolio undermines the focus, expertise, and resources required to tackle systemic issues effectively. Simply put, it will not work. Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attention—none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry.
This move, dismantling the national machinery for women’s rights and gender equality, has far-reaching implications. This decision comes amid a broader international backlash on women and gender rights, with countries rolling back protections and support structures. We are also deeply concerned about the deprioritization of the young feminist portfolio. This pushes young feminists in Canada back into the footnotes of decision-making, ripping away a hard-won seat at the table when it is most critical.
This week 189 countries, including Canada, are reviewing 30 years of progress on women’s advancement. The removal of this cabinet position is a betrayal of the principles outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which Canada has long supported. Furthermore, it contradicts the spirit of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and the ongoing efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIIA+ people.
The removal of this cabinet position is not just a symbolic loss; it has real-world implications for millions of women and gender-diverse people and workers in Canada who rely on the government to protect their rights and advance their interests. Furthermore, Canada’s commitment to women’s rights, equality and full participation in society depends on this department’s sustained funding, policy-making and accountability measures.
It is imperative that the Prime Minister reconsider this decision and reinstate a dedicated Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth to ensure that these critical issues remain at the forefront of Canada’s political agenda. People in Canada do not have to choose between the economy and critical social priorities.
Media Contact
Anuradha Dugal – Women’s Shelters Canada 514-994-6804 adugal@endvaw.ca
Jackie Neapole – Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF) 613-619-1961 jackie@criaw-icref.ca
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah – Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights (613)-519-2788 Ext. 13900 debbie@actioncanadashr.org
We, the undersigned, demand better.
LINK TO THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE.
SIGNATORIES
‘Ksan Society
Aboriginal Legal Services
Aboriginal Mother Centre Society
Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC)
AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception in BC
AccessNow Nova Scotia
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Action LGBTQIA+ avec les ImmigrantEs et Réfugiés (AGIR Montréal)
Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes
Actions Femmes Île-du-Prince-Édouard
AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area, auth by Dr. Stacey Mayhall, Executive Director
Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale
Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux
Alternatives for Women in Prince Edward County
Ann Pederson
Anti-Racism Coalition NL (ARC-NL)
Archway Society for Domestic Peace
Armagh
Assaulted Women’s Helpline
Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens
Association Québécoise de coopération internationale
Aura Freedom
Aura Freedom International
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
BC Civil Liberties Association
BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH)
Be the Peace Institute
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region
BizKids Practical Education ASSN
Black Femme Legal
Black Lives Matter Sudbury
Black Women In Motion (BWIM)
Blue Pinion Films
Bryony House (Halifax Transition House Association) Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Build a Dream
Building a Bigger Wave Ontario Network
BWSS Battered Women’s Support Services Association
C.E.F.S.O. – Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario
CALACS du Saguenay
Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty
Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR)
Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS)
Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF)
Canadian Teachers’ Federation
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce | Chambre de Commerce des Femmes Canadiennes
Canadian Women’s Foundation
CARE Canada
Carrefour des Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario
CBA National Women Lawyers Forum
Centrale des syndicats du Québec
Centre de Sante communautaire Hamilton/Niagara
Centre de solidarité lesbienne
Centre d’encadrement des jeunes femmes immigrantes
Centre des Femmes de Longueuil
Centre for Civic Governance
Centre for Feminist Research
Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children
CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women)
Chair’s Circle for Gender Equality
Chair’s Circle for Gender Equality
Child Care Now
Chimo Community Services, Richmond, BC
Choice in Health Clinic
Circle Community LandTrust
City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)
Coalition Féministe contre la Violence envers les Femmes (CFVF)
Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador (CSCNL)
Community Sector Network of PEI
Corner Brook Status of Women Council
CORNERSTONE Family Violence Prevention Centre
Counselling and Family Service Ottawa / Service familial et counseling Ottawa
Creston Valley Den Society – Creston, BC
DAWN Canada
Dawson Shelter Society
Diana Rivington
Domestic Violence Association of New Brunswick
Dr Evelyn Vingilis
Dr Ramneek Dosanjh
Dr. Amanda Dale – Women’s Rights Institute; Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa
Dr. Denise Koh Medical Corporation
EcoEquitable
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
Elizabeth Fry Society of Northeastern Ontario
Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
Elizabeth Fry Society of Quebec
Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan
Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka
Elliot Lake Women’s Group Inc.
Embrave Agency to End Violence
End FGM Network Canada
End Sexual Violence Newfoundland and Labrador
Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada
Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVABC)
Equality Fund
Family Dynamix Association
Family Transition Place
Faye Peterson House
Fédération autonome de l’enseignement
Fédération des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes
Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances
Fédération interprofessionelle de la santé du Québec
Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC)
Flemingdon Health Centre
Fora: Network for Change
Génération Cinq
Global Women in STEM
Good Shepherd Centres
GOOD TO BE GOOD
Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace
Han Knakst Tsitxw Society
Hiatus House, Windsor Ontairo
Highwire Collective
Hope for Refugees International
Huron Women’s Shelter Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services
Huronia Transition Homes
Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO)
Institute for International Women’s Rights Manitoba
Inter Pares
Interval House of Ottawa
John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society
Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre
Kemlin Nembhard, Executive Director, Women’s Health Clinic, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Kootenai Community Centre Society – Creston, BC
La Maison de Marthe
Lakehead University Student Union
Leadership féminin Prescott-Russell
Linda Krystina Housing Society
Living in Community
London Abused Society
London Abused Women’s Centre
Luke’s Place
Maama Watali
Maison d’hébergement pour femmes francophones – La Maison
Maison Interlude House Inc.
Manitoulin Family Resources
Marjorie House
Marlo Turner Ritchie, Founder & Principal Consultant, Social Impact Consulting / Conseil impact social
Martha Paynter – Director of Research at Wellness Within
Medical Herstory
Migrant Workers Centre BC
Minerva Foundation for BC Women
Mokami Status of Women Council
Mothers Matter Canada
Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services
National Alliance for Children and Youth
National Association of Women and the Law / Association nationale Femmes et Droit
National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence – Catherine Lelievre, Executive Director
Nelson Community Services
New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity
Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto
North Shore Women’s Centre
North York Women’s Shelter
Northern Society for Domestic Peace, BC
Nunavut Association of Non-Profit Organizations
Oasis Centre des femmes
OCASI-Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses
Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC)
Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association
Ontario Federation of Labour
Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN)
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
Options for Sexual Health (BC)
Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)
Pacific Immigrant Resources Society
PearlSpace Support Services Society
PEI Coalition for Women’s Leadership
PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc
Peterborough Community Legal Centre
Phoenix Transition Society, Prince George, BC
Planned Parenthood Toronto
Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society
Progressive Intercultural Society
Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS)
Quinte Coordinating Committee Against Violence, Hastings County Ontario
RaiseHER Co.
Ralph Thornton Community Centre
Regina Transition House/La Maison the Transition de Regina
Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale
Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick
Regroupement québécois des CALACS
Réseau ACCESS Network
Réseau d’action des femmes en santé et services sociaux (RAFSSS)
Réseau des lesbiennes du Québec
Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society
REVIVE, Sexual Assault Rape Crisis Centre of Peel
Robson Valley Community Services, McBride BC
Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre (previously WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre)
Salmo Community Resource Society
SARA for Women
Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District
Sexual Assault Centre Kingston
Sexual Assault Centre of Brant
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region
Shuswap Area Family Emergency (SAFE) Society
Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology
Society of Queer Momentum
South Asian Women Centre
South Asian Women’s and Immigrant’s Services
South Okanagan Women in Need Society
South Peace Community Resources Society (SPCRS)
St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival
Sunshine Coast Community Services Society
Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC)
Survivors United Against Violence – New Brunswick
SWAN Vancouver
Syndicat de professionelles et professionels du gouvernement du Québec
Tamitik Status of Women Association
Tasha Henderson, City Councillor New Westminster BC
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia
The Elizabeth Fry Society of New Brunswick
The Honourable Jean Augustine
The Honourable Senator Marilou McPhedran
The Prosperity Project
The Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton & Area) – SACHA
The Women’s Centre Grey Bruce
Three Oaks Foundation, Belleville Ontario
Times Change Women’s Employment Service
Timmins and Area Women in Crisis
Timmins Family Counselling Center
Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society
Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS)
Tri-City Transitions Society
Unifor
Universal Access to Contraception Saskatchewan
UPlift Black
Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society
Victim Services of Durham Region (Oshawa, Ontario)
Victim Services of Peterborough and Northumberland
Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre
Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
Volunteer Alberta
We’re Here For You Canada – National
Wellness Within, Auth by Chair, Natasha Hines
West Coast LEAF
Westcoast Community Resources Society
White Ribbon
Willowbridge Community Services
Woman House
WomanACT
Women and Children Precious Shelter
Women and HIV / AIDS Initiative (Ontario), Molly Bannerman, Provincial Director
Women Transforming Cities
Women Veterans Research and Engagement Network (WREN)
Women’s Centre for Social Justice (WomenatthecentrE)
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network
Women’s Shelters Canada
Women’s Health in Women’s Hands CHC
Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom Canada
WORTH – Women of Recreation, Tourism, & Hospitality
Xpey’ Selhni’ Lelum – Cedar Woman House
YEG Built For Life Foundation
Yellow Brick House
YMCA BC
York Region Centre for Community Safety
Yukon Status of Women Council
Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society
YWCA Agvik Nunavut
YWCA Banff
YWCA Cambridge
YWCA Canada
YWCA Durham
YWCA Edmonton
YWCA Halifax
YWCA HamiltonYW
YWCA Metro Vancouver
YWCA Niagara Region
YWCA NWT
YWCA Peterborough Haliburton
YWCA Québec
YWCA Regina
YWCA Saskatoon
YWCA St. John’s
YWCA St-Thomas Elgin
YWCA Toronto
YWCA Westman